Highlights of the British Commonwealth in session one include Lot 487, the aforementioned 1865 Vancouver Island stamp. This imperforate five-cent stamp (Scott #3) is cancelled with a “neat blue barred ’35’ numeral” and has ragged margins around all sides.

In 1860, the Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia issued a postage stamp inscribed with both “British Columbia” and “Vancouver Island” because it was more economical; however, in September 1865, Vancouver Island issued its own five- and 10-cent stamps. Two months later, British Columbia would also begin issuing its own stamps. It wasn’t until July 20, 1871, that British Columbia joined the Dominion of Canada.

This certificate was issued by the Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation Expert Committee in 1987.

Another session one highlight—this of Great Britain—is Lot 475, an unused 1885 £1 brown-lilac Queen Victoria Inland Revenue Official stamp with Crowns watermark (Scott #O10). The stamp, which is without gum, has an opening bid of $11,500 and an estimate of $12,000-$13,000. Its Scott catalogue value is $80,000.

Lot 475 (shown above) is expected to bring upwards of $13,000 at the Jan. 13-15 sale.

Rounding out the session one highlights is Lot 486, a two-and-a-half pence dull rose imperforate stamp issued by the Colonies of British Columbia and Vancouver Island in 1860. This “very fresh” ungummed stamp has a “small filled in thin spot” and “very nice margins all round,” according to auctioneers.

The auction catalogue also notes current research suggests all of these stamps were produced without gum and privately gummed at a later time.

Lot 486 (shown above) is expected to cross the block for between $3,000 and $4,000 next week in California.

The stamp is accompanied with a 1989 Philatelic Foundation certificate of genuineness. It has an opening bid of $1,900 and a pre-sale estimate of $3,000-$4,000. Its Scott catalogue value is $20,000.

SESSIONS No. 2 & 3

On Jan. 14, session two will offer more than 800 U.S. single lots as well as a “back-of-the-book” selection with more than 60 postal stationery singles, including essays and proofs, covers and postcards, revenue stamps, test stamps, and more.

On Jan 15, session three will include more than 630 collections of U.S., postcards, ephemera, and worldwide material.

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